Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-22
STUDYING GERMAN.
HOW MARK TWAIN USED TO TAKE
SIX LESSONS A WEEK.

A Harrassing aud Infuriating Study-A
Perplexed Old Professor and an Erratic
Pupil-Distressing Diversions-shrewd
Suspicion Among Friends.
Perhaps you remember the article on ''The
Awful German Language" which is inserted
near the end of "The Tramp Abroad" The
article is said by those who thoroughly under
stand the science of that irregular, intricate
and strangely conducted language, TO be a
powerful criticism upon it, and one showing
an unusual knowledge and understanding of
the peculiaritics of the language which Mark
IVAN justly pronounces a "harrassing and
infnliating study" 1t is so well done, displays
such an insight into the complexities Of mean
ing and construction that the young man
saws 1t Is mystery to those who know of the
authors methods of acquiring the tongue,
making them wonder where and how he ever
learned so uluch When Mark Twain, in con
temptation Of a visit abroad, decided to learn
German, he sent for the professor, a man
we'll known and respected in Hartford, a
patient though opinouated old gentleman,
erammed TO Ills very hair with science and
grammar. During the preliminary arrange
nients he asked Mr.. Clemens how many les
sons a week he would take II think [ will
take SIX was the deliberate answer "Oh,
but you cannot take six, - said the professor
rit will be impossible for YOU 10 study so
much each day. Three would be quite
enough" But Mr.. Clemens assured him he
could take six and aSsurngly said, "Now, Won
come every day, professor, and will take
care of the rest. We shall get along all
right"
Ibe professor went. armed with grammars,
leNlcons aud commentaries, and seated in the
library secure from intrusion, began his
teaching. Mark Twain listened patiently for
while and then said: Yes, | know That
is all very interesting, but l want to know
how to say How do you do Good morn
ing, and such things. Tell me how YOU say
the names of the desk and table and chairs,
You know. Let us talk about the things in
the room. There is time enough for gram
mar, is there not, later, after ] can talk 1t
was before the DAYS of the Natural Method, "
and the good old teacher stared with aston
lshment. He said such digressions would
never do and pinned his pupil down to the
text with most creditable perseverance.
DISTRESSING DIVERSIONS.
AT every lesson there was ingenious. and
TO the conscientious professor most distressing
diversions, and the lessons were none toe
regular, though Mark Twain insisted that
the professor should come every day When
there was no lesson, as began to be fire.
quently the case, lie managed to get great
deal of information and entertainment out OF
the conversation of the professor, and in turn
Interested and aruuSad tho ,lJ
that after few futile attempts to stick tC
the grammar he gave it up and shook hi,
| sides Ill hearty enjoyment of the drolleries OF
| his unmanageahle scholar
| One day, when the weather was fine, Mark
| Twain endured short quarter Of an hour in
the library, and then throwing his booE.
aside said: Come professor, it is too pleasan,
| to stay IN the house, lets 90 out into the
| garden. With his conscience troubling him
| but unable to resist chat in the SUNSHINE
| and his pupils happiest mood he followed tt
| seat III arbor among the roses which
| bloomed on every side Lets have cigar
| said the host; and when the smoke curleC
| away over their heads Mr. Clemens said
| "There! This is something like! This is my
way of studying German. Now we will tall
about the flowers. How do YOU call thes.
roses, that vine this tree!@
| Mr.. Clemens insisted upon paving for siy
| lessons week, hut to those who know of hi
erratic and at times original manner of study
it scanned impossible that he could learn any
thing of the language he desired to acquire
| When. however, his subsequent fuencv il
conversation andtlis insight into the writer
language appeared, there was shrewd sus
plcion among the friends of the old professor
that he procured another one more pliah
and ready TO conform to his ideas and addin.
thereto, when, no one can imagine, a study o
the dry details of the language. is now able t.
discuss it in a manner possible to few
foreigners. So much for the story as it i
told in society circles here. 1t is certainl,
characteristicl-Fl Florine Thaycr McCray il
| Springfield Homestead.